Computerized bill consolidation, billing and payment authorization with remote access to the billing information

US6052671A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Avista Advantage, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Gerry Crooks · Spokane, US
• Janna Genzberger · Spokane, US
• Ed Arnhold · Spokane, US
• John Battista · Northville, US
• Ken Boni · Hayden Lake, US
• Dave Miller · Anaheim, US
• Mark Feichtner · Spokane, US
• Larry Kippenhan · Liberty Lake, US
• Shawn Nanto · Spokane, US
• Teri Orr · Liberty Lake, US
• Dan Bowers · Boise, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 6, 1999
• Grant date: Apr 18, 2000
• Expiry date: Apr 6, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S707/99948
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Computerized billing and payment authorization methods and systems are described. In one aspect, a host system includes a database in which information associated with a billable entity from which payment is to be received is stored. Billing information is received from a billing entity and is associated with a bill for payment by the billable entity. The billable entity is provided with remote electronic access to the billing information in the host computer and can authorization payment thereof. In one implementation, the billing information is scrutinized in accordance with pre-determined tolerance parameters prior to the billable entity gaining access thereto. In another implementation, a plurality of billing entities provide billing information to the host system, with the billing information being subsequently checked and consolidated into a consolidated amount which can be remotely accessed by the billable entity. In a preferred implementation a plurality of utility providers are incorporated into the system and providing billing information for customers which may have a number of different, geographically-separated sites being serviced by different utilities. The billing i…